Clothes pressing and cleaning apparatus.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908 A. J HOFFMAN. CLOTHES PBESSING AND CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1905.

avtuankoz witness PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

A; J. HOFFMAN.

CLOTHES PRESSING AND CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

"wi messes W away for the saving of space.

UNITED s'rarns rarnwr OFFIQE.

ADON .T. HOFFMAN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO RICHARD M.

ARMS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CLOTHES PRESSING AND CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 2 1905.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Serial No. 288,934.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADON J. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of l i ashington, have invented certain new and useful 1m provenients in Clothes Pressing and (leaning Apparatus and I do hereby declare the follmving to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes pressing and cleaning apparatus, and 'iarticularly to apparatus designed to subject clothes to pressure while supplying steam thereto.

One of the objects in view is the provision of a structure whiehis susceptible of rapid manipulation.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :*Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical central section through an apparatus en'ibodying the features of the present invention, parts being broken Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of the upper pressing head detached. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the same, the pad being omitted. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of line 66 of Fig. 5 and looking downwardly. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail transverse section taken on the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 8 is a detail transverse section taken on the plane of line 8-S of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one of the lower pressing heads detached, the pad thereof being partly broken away. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the other lower pressing head, the pad being omitted. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of the end of the binding strap for one of the press pads. Fig. 12 represents a longitudinal vertical section taken on the plane of line 1212 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 13 is a detail View of one of the movable head supporting brackets. Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view of one of the air and gas discharging nozzles. Fig. 15 is a detail fragmentary sectional view through one end of the pressing head shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a catch forming part of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a base of any suitable type provided with a standard 2 at each end. Each of the standards 2 carries an upwardly projecting shaft 3, the said shafts being connected by the cross plate 4. The plate 4 is penetrated by and serves as a guide for the vertical shaft 5 pivotally connected to a link 6 at its lower end, the said link being pivotally engaged by a second link 7, which latter link in turn pivotally engages the support 8, the said links constituting a toggle. A third link 9 pivotally engages the pivotal connection between the links 6 and 7 and extends to and pivotally engages a lever 10, which lever is pivoted at one end to any suitable support as, for instance, to the pivot of the lower end of link 7, the outer end of the lever 10 being left free to be operated, preferably by the foot of the operator. When the lever 10 is depressed, it will be observed, the links 6 and 7 will have their pivots brought into alinement and when lever 10 is pressed slightly further than a suflicient distance for bringing the links 6 and 7 into alinement, said links will be swung past such alinement and the lever 10 will rest upon the support 1, so that whatever weight is carried by the shaft 5, will be sustained by the pivotal connection between the links 6 and 7 and the link 9. When it is desired to lower the shaft 5, it is only necessary to raise the lever 10, which may be done in any convenient mannor, and as soon as the links 6 and 7 have been swung rearwardly beyond the point of alinement of their pivots, the shaft 5 will drop of its own weight.

The upper ends of the rods 3 are connected by a cross bar 11 which is preferably provided with flanges 12-12 at its lower edges, and said flanges are engaged by brackets 1313 carried by and supporting transverse plates 14l14. Each of the plates 14 is formed. with a foot 15 at each end, and each of said feet is bolted to or otherwise suitably connected with a block 16 formed integral with the upper press head referred to generically by the reference numeral 17. The press head 17 is thus slidingly mounted on the bar 11, and said bar is formed with a longitudinal rack 18 on its under face engaged by a pinion 19 fixed to a shaft 20 arranged transversely of the bar 11 and supported by suitable bearings carried by the plate 14. The shaft 20 extends outwardly to a position convenient for the hand of the operator and is provided with an operating handle 21 which is designed to be rotated for adjusting the press head 17 longitudinally as may be desired. Said press head is otherwise fixed and may be considered fixed permanently as its adjustments are accomplished only dur ing the preparation for operation. The said press head 17 is made up of an inclosing plate 22 formed with a depending flange 23 extending about its edges, for producing an in closing chamber 24. Formed integral with and extending longitudinally of the plate 22 are steam domes or chambers 25- 25 which project upwardly from the body portion of the plate 22 and at their ends carry the at taching blocks 16.

As seen best in Figs. 1 and 3, a steam supply pipe 26 extends longitudinally of the upper press head 17 between the domes 25 to a point approximately midway of the length of said domes and there communicates with the cross pipe 27, which latter pipe discharges downwardly at its ends into the domes or chambers 25. Any suitable valve 26 controls the communication of steam from pipe 26 to pipe 27. The pipe 26 is connected with the flexible pipe 28 which supplies steam from a pipe 29 leading from any suitable source. Supported within each of the steam domes or chambers 25 is a hot tube or casing 30 sustained by screws or other suitable supporting means 3131 carried by the wall of the respective chamber 25. A pipe 32 leads from the outside of one end of each of the chambers 25 and communicates with the corresponding end of the casing 30, and a simi lar ipe 33 extends through the opposite end. wall of the chamber 25 and communicates with the corresponding end of the casing 30.

As seen in Fig. 3, a gas supply pipe 34 communicates with a pair of nozzles 35-35 arranged to discharge into the respective hot tubes or casings 30 through pipes 32. In the rear of the pipe 34 is a compressed air supply pipe 36 leading from any suitable source, and

communicating with nozzles 35-35 and thus supplying air to the gas supplied through pipe 34. The valves 3838 are arranged within the nozzles 3535 for controlling the discharge of air and gas. The pipes 34 and 36 have a flexible portion intermediate their length, as indicated in Fig. 1, for accommodating adjustment of the press head 17.

A plate 39 is connected to the depending flange 23 by any suitable attaching means, and said plate 39 closes the chamber 24. The plate 39 is formed with a series of -apertures 40-40 through which project frustoconical lugs 41*41 depending from a plate 42, and spaced from the plate 39 and drawn downwardly toward said plate 39 by means of springs 4343 which connect the two plates, said springs normally retaining the lugs 41 with their lower ends projecting through the openings 40 to such an extent as to close said openings whereby steam within the chamber 24 is prevented from escaping. Any suitable pressing pad is arranged beneath plate 39 and said pad preferably consists of suitable brass gauze 44 and wire mesh 45 covered by a cloth 46 (see Fig. 7), the edges of the pad being passed about the projecting edges 39 of the plate 39 and being firmly secured in position by means of a strap or belt 47 inclosing the overlapping edges of the pad, the said strap 47, as best seen in Fig. 11, being provided with eyes, one of which is threaded, said eyes being adapted to receive a threaded tightening bolt 48 adapted to be rotated for causing the eyes to approach each other and the strap or belt 47 to be tightened.

Sleeves or collars 49 inclose the shafts 3 and have their lower ends resting upon the ends of the plate 4, and each of said sleeves 49 carries a laterally projecting arm 50 formed with slots 51-51. A bifurcated plate 52 is formed with longitudinal slots 5353 registering with the slots 5151 of each of the arms 50 and bolts, or other suitable securing means 54-54, extend through the registering slots 51 and 53 for locking the respective plate 52 to its corresponding arm 50. Each of the plates 52 is rigidly fixed to a lower press head generically men tioned by the reference numeral 55, each of said press heads 55 being supported by the respective plate 52. Each of the press heads 55 is exactly like the other, with the exception that one is connected with one of the sleeves 49 and the other is connected with the other of said sleeves, so that one assumes a reverse relation to its respective supporting plate 52, to that assumed by the other, so that the connection made to plate 52 by one of the press heads 55 is at one end of the said head while the connection of the other plate 52 with the other press head 55 is at the opposite end. This will be apparent by an inspection of the showing in Figs. 9 and 10. The two press heads 55 being otherwise exactly alike the same reference numerals and description will apply to both. Each of the press heads 55 is formed of a main plate 56 having upwardly extending flanges 57 at its edges which carry a plate 58 similar in construction and arrangements to plate 39 of the upper head 17, a steam chamber 60 being thus formed within the plate 56.

A plate 61 is arranged beneath the plate 58 and is constructed to operate similar to plate 42 of the upper press head, said plate 61 being connected by springs 6262 to the plate 58 and carrying frusto conical lugs 6363 adapted to normally close apertures 6464. in the plate 58. A press pad 65 is connected by a strap 66, similar in construction and arangement to strap 17, to the flange 57 of plate 56 below the plate 58, the said pad 65 being preferably similar in construction and arrangement to the pad of the upper press head. T he head 55 is formed with depemling longitudinal steam domes or chambers 67-67, and within each of said chambers is arranged a spreading block 68 preferably of wood but which may be made of any desired material, each of said blocks being secured in position by means of screws or other suitable connections 69-69 to the wall of the dome or chamber 67. A steam supply pipe 70 extends longitudinally, centrally of the press head 55 between the chambers 67 and is provided at its inner end with a cross '1' 71 having its ends communicating with the two chambers 67 and discharging against the respective blocks 68, a suitable valve 72 being arranged in the end of the pipe 70 for contmlling the supply of steam through the crosspipe 71. A flexible pipe 73 connects the pipe 70 with a supply pipe 29. Any suitable pet cock 7% communicates with each of the chambers 67 for draining moisture therefrom. At each end of each of the chambers 67 is fixed a bearing block 75.

The shaft 5 at its upper end carries a supporting head 76 having arms extending in position for engaging the blocks of either of the heads 55, when one of said heads is in an operative position with respect to the fixed head 17. A plate 77 is arranged at one end of each of the heads 55, said plate being secured by spring straps 78 to the end of the plate 56. The plate 77 is arranged at one end of one of the press heads 55 and. at the opposite end to the other press head 55, so that when either of the press heads is in position beneath the press head 17, the plate 77 carried thereby will have the same relative position with respect to the surround ing parts.

The present improved structure is particularly well adapted for use in pressing and cleaning trousers, but, of course, may be utilized for other purposes. Whcm used. for the purpose of pressing and cleaning trousers, a spring strap 79 is pivotally connected to the respective plate 56 at one end thereof, and is adapted to be swung upon its pivot to one side while the trousers are being positioned on the respective plate 56, and after such positioning of the trousers, said strap is swung back to position. above the hem of the trousers leg and the spring is then locked in position by means of 'a suitable catch 79 similar to catch 81 shown in detail in Fig. 16.

At the opposite end the body or Waist portion of the trousers is permitted to rest upon the plate 77 and is clamped in position thereon by means of a spring clamping strap 80 pivotally connected with the plate 77 at one end and detachably retained in position at the other end by means of a suitable catch 81 shown in detail in Fig. 16.

In operation a pair of trousers is adjusted on one of the press heads 55 and the same is swung to a position beneath the press head 17, and the lever 10 operated, which result in the upward movement of the shaft 5 and the elevation of the press head 55. Previous to the operation of the lever 10, of course the valves 26 and 72 are opened, and the valves 38*38 are also opened and the gas ignited within the steam. spreader or hot tube 30. Steam is discharged through pipe 27 down upon the said hot tube 30, and caused to be spread by said tube into a thin sheet which is super-heated by the heat of the tube 30, and in such super-heated condition enters the chamber 24, and, when the press head 55 is elevated to a pressing position, the pressure upon the pads causes the lugs 41 and lugs 63 to recede and permit the escape of steam into and through the pads and into the garment being pressed. The garment is thus set in the shape given it by the compression and the steam at the same time tends to remove foreign substances and to cleanse the garment. It is not necessary to superheat the steam in the lower press head, and hence, the hot tube 30 is only employed in the upper head, although it is within the scope of the present invention to employ steam superheating means within the lower head. The block 65 serves to distribute the steam throughout the lower head. \Vhile the steaming and pressing operation is being carried out, a garment may be positioned upon the other press head 55, and by the time the same is properly positioned, the operation on the first garment will have been completed, and the lever 10 may be raised and the press head 55 swung to one side. The other press head is then swung to a position beneath the press head 17 and the lever 10 depressed. l Vhile the pressing and steaming operation is being carried out on the second garment, the first garment is removed from the first press head, and a new garment applied thereon. Thus it will be seen that the operation will be practically continuous, no delay being occasioned by the time required for thoroughly cleansing and pressing the garment being operated upon.

Each of the plates 39 and 58 is formed with a longitudinal depression 39, as indicated in Fig. 4 said depressions being provided for accommodating the longitudinal seams of a pair of trousers.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the class described,

thecombination of a steam chamber, a casing arranged therein and adapted to be suriounded by steam, said casing extending from .near one end of said steam chamber to near the Opposite end and formed with comparatively small inlet and outlet openings, and a comparatively large central body portion, jrheans -for directing heat through said casing for superheating the steam in said chamber, said outlet permitting heat to escape without coming in contact with. the garment being operated upon, means for supplying steam to said. chamber, and a clothes pressing htad arranged contiguous to said steam chamber and :nlapted to permit steam to escape from the steam. chamber when pressure is brought to bear thereon.

2. In an. apparatus of the class described, the coml'iination. of a steam chamber, a casing therein extending from near one side of said chamber to near the opposite side thereof, means for permitting said casing to conm'umicate with the atmosphere at both ends through the walls of said steam chamber, means for supplying gaseous fuels and directing the same longitmlinally of said casing for heating the same, the heated casing being adapted to superheat the steam in said chamber, means for supplying steam under pressure to said chamber, and a clothes pressing pad arranged contiguous to and adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure from. said steam chamber at the time mechanical. pressure is applied to said pad. 3. In. an apparatus of the class described, the comlnnation of a steam chamber, a pair of steam domes coinmunicating therewith, means for supplying steam to said domes, a heating casing arranged within each of said domes nearly filling the same for superheating steam in said chamber, means for supplying a flame to the interior of said casings for heating the same and clothes pressing means co-aeting with said steam chamber.

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a steam clnimber, a casing arranged therein extending -from near one side of said chamber to near the other side thereof, means for permitting said cas ing to communicate with the atmosphere at both ends, means fo supplying heat to said casing, means for supplying st am under pressure to said chamber, and means for directing the steam against said casing, whereby the steam. is adapted to be spread and superheated b r said casin clothes iressin means (if I? co-acting with. said steam chamber, and means for permitting the superheated steam to escape into said clothes pressing means.

5. In an apparatus oi the class described, the combination with a steam. chamber, and means for supplying steam thereto, of a per-- forated plate arranged across the 'face of said. chamber, a second plate arranged contiguous to the first mentioned plate, tapering lugs carried. by said second mentioned plate and projecting into the perforations of said. first mentioned plate, and springs normally retaining said second mentioned plate in position for having said lugs close the perforations of said first mentioned plate, whereby steam is normally prevented from escaping from said steam. chamber and is permitted to escape when. said lugs are subjected. to pres sure.

(3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a steam chamber, clothes pressing means adapted to be supplied with steam, a perforatml plate ii'iterposed between said chamber and. said clothespressingmeans, a second plate having tapering projections formed thereon for normally closing the perforations in said perforated plate, said. projections projecting beyond said perforated plate, a spring pressing against said. second plate for normally holding said. projections in said perforations, and. means for engaging said projections for causing the same to move for mrmitting the escape of steam. through said. perforations during the operation. of said clothes pressing means.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the con'ibination. with a steam chamber, of a plate closii'ig the same and ifori'ned with apertures therein, said plate forming the bottom of said chamber, cone shaped lugs projecting through said apertures, a spring pressed plate carrying paid lugs and normally retaining the same in position for closing the apertures, a pad arranged in contact with said lugs, and means co-acting with said pad for pressing a garment against the same whereby said lugs are adapted to be pressed to a position permitting the escape of steam through the ap ertures of said apertured plates.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a steam chamber, and means for supplying steam thereto, of a peri'orated plate arranged across the face of said chamber, a second plate arranged contiguous to said perforated plate, lugs carried by said second. mentioned plate and contacting with said perforated plate for normally closing said perforations, ilneans for normally retaining said second mentioned plate in position 'for having the lugs thereof contacting with said. perforated plate for closing the perforations therein and preventing steam from escaping through said perforations, and means for removing said lugs out of contact with said perforated plate :for permitting steam to escape therethrough.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in. presence of two witnesses.

A DON J. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

G. burn KEMP, G. J. Rnrrnn. 

